The Italian National Olympic Committee was created in 1908 and recognized in 1913. The Italian Olympic Team has also competed in the Mediterranean Games where they have won a total of 1,786 medals, the most in the games' history. As of 2016 they are the most successful nation at fencing in Olympic history.

Italy has finished in the top 5 of the medal count 11 times in the Summer Olympic Games and 3 times in the Winter Olympic Games. In total Italy has finished in the top 5 of the medal count 14 times. Italy has also finished in the top 10 of the medal count 20 times in the Summer Olympic Games and 13 times in the Winter Olympic Games. In total Italy has finished in the top 10 of the medal count 33 times.

^Until 2009 it was believed that Italy did not take part at the 1904 Olympics. It was discovered by Olympic historians later on that cyclist Frank Bizzoni thought as an American national was still an Italian citizen at the time of the games.